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US 2026/0117828 A1Published application
Actuator assembly for use with a clutch
AssigneeMeans Industries, Inc.
InventorWilliam D Wise
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clutch assembly and method for controlling torque distribution of the clutch assembly based on the movement of an actuator. The clutch assembly includes a selectable clutch having a first position and a second position, an actuator, and a controller. The controller monitors current feedback from the actuator and detects motion of the actuator based on current feedback.
Claims25
A method for controlling torque in a clutch assembly comprising:
- providing a drive member and a driven member;
- providing a selectable coupling having a torque transmitting position;
- providing an actuator, the actuator acting on the selectable coupling to move the selectable coupling to the torque transmitting position wherein the selectable coupling transmits torque between the drive member and the driven member;
- providing a voltage source;
- applying voltage to the actuator;
- detecting actuator current in the actuator;
- detecting an initial peak in the actuator current;
- detecting a current valley in the actuator current;
- and
- controlling torque between the drive member and the driven member based on detection of the current valley.
7 more elements
A method for controlling torque transfer in a clutch assembly comprising:
- providing a selectable coupling having a first, torque transmitting position and a second, non-torque transmitting position;
- providing an actuator, the actuator acting on the selectable coupling to move the selectable coupling between the first, torque transmitting position and the second non-torque transmitting position;
- supplying voltage to the actuator;
- detecting a back electromotive force in the actuator;
- determining motion of the actuator based on the detection of a back electromotive force;
- and
- moving the selectable coupling based on the motion of the actuator.
4 more elements
A clutch assembly comprising:
- a selectable one-way clutch having a first position and a second position;
- an actuator;
- and
- a controller, the controller that monitors current feedback from the actuator and detects motion of the actuator.
1 more element
A torque transmission assembly comprising:
- an actuator, the actuator includes a stator with a coil and a translator with a magnet;
- a back electromotive force detection unit generating a signal based on movement of the translator relative to the stator;
- and
- a coupling member transferring torque from a drive member to a driven member based on the signal from the back electromotive force detection unit.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.